Jack Klugman

Actor

Born: 27 April 1922

Died: 24 December 2012 (Natural causes)

Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Best known as:

Oscar Madison in TV's The Odd Couple

Jack Klugman is a versatile character actor who appeared on Broadway and in television from the 1950s through the 1990s. He is best known for playing sportswriter Oscar Madison -- the slobby one -- in the TV comedy series The Odd Couple from 1970-75. (Tony Randall played his roommate, the tidy and fastidious Felix Unger.) From 1976 to 1983, Jack Klugman played a crimefighting medical examiner on another series, Quincy M.E. Before his TV hits, Klugman also appeared in a variety of movies including the courtroom drama 12 Angry Men (1957) and the romantic comedy Goodbye, Columbus (1969).

Extra credit:

Jack Klugman married actress Brett Somers in 1956; they separated in the 1970s... He had successful surgery for cancer of the larynx in 1989, but his voice with left with an audible rasp... While a struggling young actor, Jack Klugman once roomed with Charles Bronson... Jack Klugman's series Quincy was reportedly inspired by well-known Los Angeles County coroner Thomas Noguchi... Quincy's first initial was known to be "R" but his full first name was never revealed on the show.